The primary difference is that it comes stock with a full complement of NOS tubes, chosen through reading feedback from the many users who have changed their tubes, whereas the MZ2.0 Deluxe comes with all current-production Tung-sols. We're happy with the clean transparency that the Tung-sols bring to the MicroZOTL2, which is why we've stuck with them this entire time, but they do lean toward a brighter sound signature. The NOS tubes bring, we've found, a bit more body to the sound, a bit more richness. The price increase is a result of a few things, but mostly from using NOS tubes instead of current production.

Since half the fun of owning a tube amp is "rolling" tubes, could you also include the original Tung-sols with this exclusive deal? Or at least reduce some of the $300 price difference (at msrp) and make the "NOS" an option? I've been messing with tubed equipment for over 30 years and NOS is not always better. I get that MD needs to sell an "exclusive", but one needs a baseline to determine if NOS is even needed; not just "feedback from many users", I mean what about the many more owners that are satisfied with the stock Tung-Sols(?).

The original Tung-sols would not function in this amp, as the circuit has been changed in order to allow the use of 12volt tubes. The MZ2-S was conceived largely as a way to provide a "pre-rolled" option to the many people interested in tube amplification and in this idea of using older tubes but uncertain about the very deep rabbit hole of tube rolling. We know that everyone has different tastes in tubes, especially those who enjoy tube rolling, and we chose carefully which tubes to make standard in the MZ2-S. This Massdrop offering is an "exclusive release" and the same MZ2-S will enter our regular product line, at the advertised MSRP, once all the Massdrop units are shipped.
The original and Deluxe versions using 6SN7s are still available at http://www.lineartubeaudio.com/products/ and we have no plans to phase them out–they also will now have the better PCB and some of the small improvements that the MZ2-S brought about. We are very aware that there are many people already with collections of 6SN7s and 12AT7s ready to roll into the amp, and we also know that there are many people who enjoy the Tung-sols (Mark Schneider and myself both have units with Tung-sols). The MZ2-S is simply a new product built on a change in the circuit and a focus on NOS tubes instead of current production. We usually have limited time discounts available for new product releases, this time we're just joining the great community that Massdrop has built.

Okay, then how about a drop for the original and deluxe versions? I'm a very big fan of the 6SN7 (somewhat underrated tube) lots of NOS on this tube. Also, this would allow those unfamiliar with ZOTL tech/design to be able to get into the game for under a grand. And ultimately provide an upgrade path to other ZOTL amps. This is what happened to me as I bought the original ZOTL from Mr. Berning well over a decade ago.

We have plans, which I hope will come to fruition, to work with Massdrop in the future. Having sales is tricky for us with any unit; adjusted for inflation, or standard MicroZOTL2, which Mr. Berning has said sounds better than his, costs about the same for $1100 in 2016 as his direct-only, no employees, manufactured in his house $750 in 2000. The problem with trying to sell ZOTL-based amps at prices as inexpensive as are feasible is that most of the cost is in the labor involved with the many custom parts that have very small margins of error. Our team is getting better and better and we're moving to a new location and working on ways to optimize production, and if we can lower labor costs, those lowered costs will be reflected in our prices. We hope to reach a larger audience with this drop, and we'll see what happens from there.